For now they're working under a month-to-month lease, but plans are in the works to turn the building into the Marquette County History Museum.
Read more: Local, State, Economy
MARQUETTE COUNTY -- Officials at the Michigan State Police crime lab in Marquette are searching for a new facility and funding. The lease is up on the crime lab's current facility, the old MarqTran Center on Third Street.
For now they're working under a month-to-month lease, but plans are in the works to turn the building into the Marquette County History Museum.
There is no time table, however, officials at the crime lab would like to own their building. The best scenario would be to build a new facility on state land near the State Police Post in Negaunee, but funding for the lab is currently not included in next year's state budget.
They should know soon whether they'll be approved for funding through the Federal Recovery Act.
"In a sense, the economic situation is even more dire this time for state agencies than it was before, but I'm still optimistic we're here today, we're going forward and we're going to do the best we can to provide the public safety necessary and support to our local law enforcement agencies," said Lab Director David Stephens.
This is the second time in the past year and a half that funding for the crime lab has been in question.
The lab is the smallest in Michigan, but covers 30 percent of the state.
